This list is how much these players made this year, not the average amount they make every year, or how much they count against the cap

Therefore, while Olin Kruetz made 10 million this year, that's because he signed a contract extension during the season that gave him a large signing bonus. He is by no means the #2 best paid offensive lineman in the NFL.

It's not the average amount, but it is (roughly) how much they count against the cap.

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In the NFL, the top-paid players by position set the rates for franchise and transition players. The earnings for each player represent salary and prorated signing bonus for 2006.

So Brady made $3 million more than Manning. I thought Brady was the unselfish team player and Manning the selfish glory hog statboy?

That's because his base salary was only around $1 million in the first three years of the contract with huge $9-10 million roster bonuses. This year, his cap hit jumps up to around $17 million. That's why he's expected to restructure and convert all of that added salary to signing bonus, prorating most of the cap hit over the life of the contract.

So Brady made $3 million more than Manning. I thought Brady was the unselfish team player and Manning the selfish glory hog statboy?

That's because his base salary was only around $1 million in the first three years of the contract with huge $9-10 million roster bonuses. This year, his cap hit jumps up to around $17 million. That's why he's expected to restructure and convert all of that added salary to signing bonus, prorating most of the cap hit over the life of the contract.

My basic point was to laugh at all the Brady fanboys. I'm not saying anything negative about Brady here.

__________________

The problem arises when people use statistics like a drunk uses a lamp post: for support instead of illumination.

If luck is where preparation meets opportunity, then clutch is where failure meets luck.

Quote:

<Add1ct> setting myself on fire can't be that hard
<Add1ct> but tackling a mosquito might prove a challenge

So Brady made $3 million more than Manning. I thought Brady was the unselfish team player and Manning the selfish glory hog statboy?

That's because his base salary was only around $1 million in the first three years of the contract with huge $9-10 million roster bonuses. This year, his cap hit jumps up to around $17 million. That's why he's expected to restructure and convert all of that added salary to signing bonus, prorating most of the cap hit over the life of the contract.

My basic point was to laugh at all the Brady fanboys. I'm not saying anything negative about Brady here.

Oh, I understand. Prisco actually did an article on both contracts after they signed him, and their salary cap hit is pretty much the same throughout their contracts.

It's about how much they made this year. That includes signing bonuses or roster bonuses. Therefore, if a player just signed a contract with an upfront signing bonus, or just hit a roster bonus which constituted a large % of their contract, it's going to seem like their contract is worth a lot more than it is.

Therefore, statements like

"So and so mediocre player is the 5th best player kicker in the NFL!?!?"

are really incorect because the remainder of their contract could just as well pay them around the average for their position.

The title is somewhat misleading in that regard, and in regards to the signing bonus the previous poster was partially incorrect. A player can have a 10 million dollar signing bonus which he gets paid to him all in one season but the cap hit can be prorated over the length of the contract.